"IBS with constipation can be debilitating for millions of people worldwide, and this study will go a long way toward helping identify whether SYN-010 can become a valuable tool in addressing the underlying causes and offering relief to those patients," said Mark Pimentel, M.D., head of the Pimentel Laboratory and executive director of the Medically Associated Science and Technology (MAST) Program at CSMC.
The Phase 2b study is being conducted by the MAST Program at CSMC and comprises a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial to evaluate two dose strengths of oral SYN-010 (21 mg and 42 mg) in approximately 150 patients diagnosed with IBS-C. A data readout from this investigator-sponsored clinical study is expected during the second half of 2019.
"We are very excited to begin enrollment of our SYN-010 Phase 2b investigator-sponsored clinical study," said Steven A. Shallcross, Chief Executive Officer of Synthetic Biologics. "SYN-010 remains an integral component in our portfolio of microbiome-focused assets and represents a promising and differentiated approach to treating the underlying cause of the symptoms commonly associated with IBS-C. This study will be instrumental in our efforts to expand and fortify the already well-established dataset for SYN-010 and may help determine the optimal dose strength of SYN-010 for potential future registration studies."
The patent rights covering the use of SYN-010 are owned by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and are exclusively licensed by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to Synthetic Biologics. Both Cedars-Sinai and Dr. Pimentel have a financial interest in Synthetic Biologics.
Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American: SYN) is a late-stage clinical company developing therapeutics that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients. The Company's lead late-stage candidates are: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics to prevent microbiome damage, C. difficile infection (CDI), overgrowth of pathogenic organisms and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and (2) SYN-010 which is intended to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms in the gut microbiome to treat an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). The Company's preclinical pursuits include an oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to treat both local GI and systemic diseases as well as monoclonal antibody therapies for the prevention and treatment of pertussis. For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions, and includes statements regarding SYN-010 representing a promising and differentiated approach to treating the underlying cause of the symptoms commonly associated with IBS-C, potential future registration studies, the planned design of the Phase 2b study, the expected data readout from this investigator-sponsored clinical study during the second half of 2019, the potential of SYN-010 to treat the cause of IBS-C not just the symptoms and, the study helping to determine the optimal dose strength of SYN-010 for potential future registration studies. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the ability to receive Institutional Board Approval of the Phase 2b trial protocol, the ability to commence the trial when anticipated, the results of the SYN-010 trial demonstrating support for the use of SYN-010 to treat symptoms of IBS-C, Synthetic Biologics' ability to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE American by September 2, 2019, Synthetic Biologics' ability to comply with other continued listing requirements of the NYSE American, the ability of its product candidates to demonstrate safety and effectiveness, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials continuing enrollment as expected, a failure to receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization of Synthetic Biologics' therapeutics, including approval of proposed trial designs, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials, and those conducted by investigators, for SYN-004 and SYN-010 to be commenced or completed on time or to achieve desired results and benefits, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials to continue enrollment as expected or receive anticipated funding, a failure of Synthetic Biologics to successfully develop, market or sell its products, Synthetic Biologics' inability to maintain its material licensing agreements, or a failure by Synthetic Biologics or its strategic partners to successfully commercialize products, Synthetic Biologics' ability to achieve acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of Synthetic Biologics' products by competitors that render Synthetic Biologics' products obsolete or non-competitive, the continued maintenance and growth of Synthetic Biologics' patent estate, Synthetic Biologics becoming and remaining profitable, Synthetic Biologics' ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund its research and development activities, a loss of any of Synthetic Biologics' key scientists or management personnel and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and its other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Synthetic Biologics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.